Tim Brando: A preseason primer for college football

The countdown to toe meeting pigskin is officially on and step one toward getting the media, and fans ready is behind us.

Media Days always delivers and this year it was Rock Star Wednesday with Urban Meyer, and Nick Saban shaping the news.

Let it be said that these guys, like them or not, are wonderful psychologists. They used all platforms of media to shift stories away from scrutiny upon influential players within their programs to the incendiary actions of rogue agents and their lasting negative impression on players essential to the sport's success.

The allegations brought recently to South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Alabama are of concern, but the shelf life of all of those stories is probably limited.

Saban launched an assault in front of SEC media and a nationwide audience on ESPN and painted with a broad brush, and extended the picture with high definition focus, utilizing his position wisely as a bully pulpit to drive home his point.

It was brilliant. He then took on questions and shined there as well.

There are times when Saban, like all coaches, can't hide his agenda and appears to live in a bubble surrounded only by those that support everything he says or does.

On this particular day he had a verbal game plan and, like his team last year, he executed it to perfection. He took questions for an additional 45 minutes and was superb.

While blasting unscrupulous agents, he smartly mentioned the industry does have many good ones, and that the NFLPA, not really just the NFL, needs to step up and take accountability on this matter. Meyer was equally effective at sending his message and appeared rested and refreshed in doing so.

In 2002, Nebraska's Tom Osborne said many of the same things, and while nothing changed he separated himself as a vocal leader, not just for Nebraska but for his profession. The sport has never been more popular, but the issues are grander in scale and with the money involved in the business today, the stakes are higher.

There's no doubt the closer we get to the season starting you will hear less about off-field issues, and more about the game. I was impressed with how the two most successful coaches reshaped the news and did so without it being so obvious.

To the game itself, and I've got a lot on my mind for the upcoming season. Football Saturdays in the South is already through it's first two weeks on KMSS Saturdays at 1:30 p.m., and on Aug. 21, my friends at CBS will join me for an EA Sports College Football Preview show. I'm ready now to answer questions that I've asked all summer long at the 19th hole.

Here's my preseason top 10. Remember my top 10 is how I believe they will finish, not how they deserve to start.

No. 10 - Wisconsin

No. 9 - Nebraska

No. 8 - Iowa

No. 7 - Texas

No. 6 - Florida

No. 5 - TCU

No. 4 - Ohio State

No. 3 -Boise State

No. 2 - Florida State

No. 1 -Alabama

That means FSU is my surprise team with first-year head coach Jimbo Fisher starting the post-Bobby Bowden era off with a bang.

I see an upset road win for them at Oklahoma, but even if I'm wrong they could still win the ACC and with a loss in a competitive road game with OU, and a late-season upset of rival Florida at Doak Campbell to close the season, the Seminoles would leapfrog enough teams to make it to the title game.

Their conference is weak enough for a significant improvement and I see it happening. I don't believe a team from any of the BCS conferences will go undefeated this season.

Here are 10 games that you must see you love all of College Football. Sorry, Notre Dame vs. USC didn't make the cut.

No. 9 -Oregon State vs. TCU in Arlington, Texas. This may be TCU's only chance to lose.

No. 8 -Miami at Ohio State. Jacory Harris and the Canes might scare the Buckeyes at the Horseshoe.

No. 7 -FSU at Oklahoma. Sooners coach Bob Stoops has only two home losses in 54 games.

No. 6 - Penn State at Alabama. Great intersectional rivalry renewed.

No. 5 - Florida at Alabama. In primetime on CBS, Oct. 2.

No. 4 - Alabama at LSU. Three in a row for Saban? Wouldn't go over well in Baton Rouge.

No. 3 - Florida at FSU. The 'Noles could take advantage of being overlooked by the Gators before SEC title game.

No. 2 -Ohio State at Wisconsin. Check the Badgers' schedule. They may win the Big Ten.

No. 1 -Texas at Nebraska. Can you say Re-Alignment Bowl?

The hottest name in coaching this year as major jobs open up toward the end of the season will be Gary Patterson at TCU, but there are six others that will constantly be in the news. Like it or not, their jobs may not be in jeopardy, but they will live in the Ultimate Fishbowl.